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'Showjumping' at Rabbit Grand National!
Photo: Action Press/Rex Features
Breeders travel in from Sweden to compete

In defiance of the usual practice of using horses for showjumping, this year's Burgess Premier Small Animal Show has included a Rabbit Grand National complete with showjumping. Entrants had to jump barriers in the recognised manner, albeit smaller ones than are usually used in horse-based events. Some breeders travelled in from as far away as Sweden to compete.

Originally popularised after a brief appearance on the defunct television show That's Life!, rabbit showjumping has become a competition sport in the UK, US, Japan, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. In Scandinavian countries, the sport is known as 'Kaninhoppning'. The inaugural European Kanin Hop Championships were held in Sweden in October 2011.

Like any sport, Rabbit showjumping requires a combination of agility and training. Rabbit showjumping experts discourage the training of particularly large rabbits due to the potentially harmful concentration of weight on the front paws during landing. It is also recommended that smaller breeds of rabbit, due to their inability to jump particularly high, are not used. However, smaller rabbits have been known to overcome these obstacles through a combination of sheer will and jumping style, and smaller rabbits have made it to the highest Scandinavian classes. Lop-eared rabbits are forbidden from competing due to the risk of injury.

The world record for a high jump in rabbits stands at 995 millimeters (39.17 inches), and is held by Tösen and Tine Hygom of Denmark. The world record for a long jump stands at 3000 millimetres (118.11 inches) by Yaboo and Maria Jensen, also of Denmark.

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FIVP announces third series of Practice Matters

News Story 1
 The Federation of Independent Veterinary Practices (FIVP) has announced a third season of its podcast, Practice Matters.

Hosted by Ian Wolstenholme, series three will focus on the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation, including a discussion about some of the expected impacts on independent veterinary colleagues.

Episode one launches on 13th January with guests Drs David Reader and Scott Summers, who will draw on their research into the CMA investigation and provide insights into themes such as transparency, pricing and consumer trust.

Ian Wolstenholme said: "In its third series, we will try and hone in on what the changes will mean in reality for independent practices with advice and guidance on implementation and delivery, drawing on the experience of our own team and other experts in the profession. Hope you can join us soon!" 

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News Shorts
Survey seeks ruminant sector views on antimicrobial stewardship

A new survey is seeking views of people working in the UK ruminant sector on how to tackle the challenge of demonstrating responsible antibiotic stewardship.

Forming part of a wider, collaborative initiative, the results will help identify the types of data available so that challenges with data collection can be better understood and addressed.

Anyone working in the UK farming sector, including vets and farmers,is encouraged to complete the survey, which is available at app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk